# NTSB ATL83FA135: Piper PA-28-161, N2372M, Chamblee, GA, March 14, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 13, 1983, 23:29 local (Mar 14, 1983, 04:29 UTC)
- Place: Chamblee, GA
- Location: 33.8760° N, 84.3020° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DEKALB-PEACHTREE (PDK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8760&lon=-84.3020&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5898
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5898/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FA135

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - communications - misread, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE ACFT OVERRAN THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY DURING LANDING ROLLOUT ON A DARK NIGHT. THE WEATHER WAS VMC. THE PILOT MISUNDERSTOOD ATLANTA APPROACH CONTROL CONCERNING RWY LIGHTING AND PICKED A RWY AT THE UNCONTROLLED ARPT THAT WAS UNLIGHTED. IT INTERSECTED A LIGHTED RWY (RWY 02 & 20). THE PLT ATTEMPTED A LANDING ON RWY 16 BEYOND WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THRESHOLD LIGHTS. HE NEVER SAW RWY NUMBERS. UPON FLARE FOR LANDING HE LOST VISUAL REFERENCE WITH THE RWY ENVIRONMENT. AFTER LANDING HE RETRACTED THE FLAPS BUT DID NOT BRAKE HEAVILY THINKING HE HAD ABOUT 2500 FT IN WHICH TO STOP. WHEN THE END OF THE RWY APPEARED HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP. DEKALB-PEACHTREE ARPT IS CONTROLLED UNTIL 2300 EST AT WHICH TIME THE TOWER FREQUENCY IS REMOTED TO ATLANTA APPROACH CONTROL. RWY 16 WAS UNLIGHTED AND THE VASI WAS FOUND OUT OF SERVICE THE DAY AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2372M (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7816279
- Airframe hours: 1861
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Red Baroness Squardon,Inc
- Registered owner: Pete'S Planes,Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 9, 1983, 22 hours before
- Departed: CHA, CHATTANOOGA, TN
- Destination: PDK
- Airport: PDK, Dekalb-Peachtree, runway 16, 3,966 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 665 total, 560 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ATL, 15 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830313007159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830313007159A), Mar 13, 1983: Piper PA28161, Chamblee, GA, Substantial damage. Pilot made downwind landing on unlighted runway and aircraft ran off end of runway into a ravine.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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